Khabib Nurmagomedov made a somewhat unexpected appearance in the media tent after the chaotic finish to UFC 229.
Many assumed that Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor would have been shepherded out of the T-Mobile Arena following the melee that marred the main event which is almost universally agreed to be the biggest fight in UFC history.
Nurmagomedov defended his lightweight title by submitting McGregor in the fourth round of their grudge match but it all kicked off in the moments that followed the Irishman’s tap.
The undefeated Russian jumped out of the Octagon to confront McGregor’s Jiu-Jitsu coach Dillon Danis, who boasted that he was a better grappler than Nurmagomedov in the build-up to Saturday night’s fight, and it soon kicked off.
At least two members of Nurmagomedov’s team physically assaulted McGregor in the cage but UFC President Dana White insists that McGregor has no interest in pressing charges against his assailants.
Given the chaotic nature of the post-fight exchanges, few reporters would have expected Nurmagomedov to show up for questions.
But show up he did and while he didn’t stay long, ‘The Eagle’ did give his take on what went down.
“First of all, I want to say sorry to the athletic commission and Las Vegas, Nevada. I know this is not my best side. This is not my best side but I am a human being,” Nurmagomedov said in his post-fight press conference.
It got ugly #UFC229 https://t.co/UK9LkPbz7D
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOE_UK) October 7, 2018
“I don’t understand how people can talk about me jumping on the cage. Worry about him talking about my religion, him talking about my country, him talking about my father, him coming to Brooklyn and breaking the bus window which almost killed a couple of people. Worry about this. Worry about this shit!
“Why are people talking about me jumping over the cage? Why are people still talking about this? I don’t understand.
“I am respectful. My father has taught me to always be respectful. My whole team in California, where I’ve been training for seven years, everybody knows who I am. All my friends, everybody who knows me knows who I am.
“I told you that these guys – not only him [McGregor] – they’re tap machines. When you put him the wrong way, he’s going to tap. What happened today?
“They call him a two-time world champion in two weight classes but today he tapped.”
Nurmagomedov went on to blame the media for encouraging tension between fighters when all he wants is a respectful lead-up with his opponents.
“I think it’s the media. The media has changed MMA a little bit,” he added.
#UFC229's main event ended in chaos https://t.co/J1qQjINlTi
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOE_UK) October 7, 2018
“This is a respectful sport. This is not trash-talking. This is respectful. I’ve told you before that I want to change this game. I don’t want people talking shit about opponents, talking shit about fathers or religion. You cannot talk about religion or nations. Guys, you cannot talk about this stuff and, for me, this is very important.
“Thank you guys so much for waiting for me here. I know my father is going to smash me when I go home. Nevada, sorry!”
